Sick boy

Poor Blake, high fever and just wants to sleep.  He was home for 2 days from school, but we fixed it with some good oils and he was better for ChirstmasVille today.

Snow day, sick baby

Nurse Delaney

I felt so terrible yesterday but thought I was better today, but after lunch it hit me again hard.  So Delaney curled up in the bed with me and took care of me this afternoon.  She asked if I needed anything and I told her my throat hurt too bad, so she said she'd get me something soft to eat.  What a thoughtful girl!  I love her!

Christmas 2014

Christmas Morning pictures...both girls had the flu, all 4 grandparents there with us, beautiful!

Kids,

I just watched a movie called "The Ultimiate Gift" (watch it if you are reading this and I haven't made you already) after a day of cleaning up from Christmas and it made me want to sit down and write to you. We had a great Christmas of course because we were all together, but this year the Advent season meant more to me than ever before and I loved watching you all enjoy it with me.  

Lilli Jane at 1 1/2 years old you are usually in to everything and full of life, but you (and Delaney) had the flu this Christmas, my most memorable moment with you is holding your burning up and lifeless body while the big kids opened her presents and mine waiting on your medicine to start working again.  All I could think about was holding you and making it all go away, the gifts didn't matter, they don't matter...health and love, that's what matters.  Please take care of your bodies through the years, it is a gift!  Drugs, too much alcohol, tattoos, piercings, etc. are not the way to do it, be good to yourself, keep yourself well. "...you were bought at a price, therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20

Delaney, you are 4 1/2 and so busy this year.  You just want me to hold you and be with you all the time.  You crave love through physical touch.  I know this and I don't feel like I give it to you enough.  Hold those you love, hug them, touch them, kiss them, it matters, I know.  I try to show you this as much as I can, it's so though to all the time though.  You teared up so big today when you just wanted to go for a walk with me.  30 min is all I was going to have to myself today and I wanted it so much that I let you cry, I'm sorry, I should have let you come with me...time together will not last forever, I wish it would, sometimes, many times, it's SO HARD to hold on to that time because life is so busy...SLOW down, cherish the little moments in life.  Each night you all tell me your favorite thing of the day and it never fails that it's something to do with spending time with me or daddy.  Time with each other is so important!  ALWAYS make time for family.  Sometimes I get frustrated, overwhelmed with everything that has to get done in the house and say "wait", "in a minute", "go do something else", "not now".  I wish I wouldn't and I try harder everyday to just "be" with you.  I pray daily for God to help me with that.  "Never be bitter, angry, or mad.  Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others.  Never do anything evil.  Be kind and loving to others.  Forgive others the same as God forgave you through Christ."  Ephesians 4:31-32

Blake, you are 6 (and proud of it).  You love the things in life, the little toys, the things you make, find, build, you hold on to memories through things.  You have really found God this year, you talk about the stories we read and you learn at church, but you feel Him in the things we do for others and in our family.  You have this heart that He has already set up home in.  You love to hear about Him, watch your sister talk about Him (as she preaches from the couch), and talk about how He works in the world through love.  We see Jesus' love in others around town, through missions, and in ourselves as we do things for others during the season and all year long.  You enjoy this so much!  I know that your birth mom and family are probably one of those families that need help at Christmas and other times throughout the year and the things we do I hope in some way reach her through things others like us do in her town.  I think about her and pray for her often, and I hope you do too as you begin to pray on your own soon.  You hold back many times in doing more, giving more of yourself, speaking up about scripture you know, and what your thoughts are.  You memorized this verse this year and it's something you need to remember your whole life.  "Remember that I have commanded you to be brave and strong, so don't be afraid.  The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go." Joshua 1:9

In the movie I watched tonight a spoiled young man learned what it was like to earn his own money, find his own way in life, and to love for love and nothing else.  I want you to all find that love one day.  A love that doesn't see any material things, but a love that only sees your heart, their heart.  Love for that reason only!  Don't let anyone, not even me, tell you not to love someone because of who they are or what they have or don't have.  Love for love, for happiness and you will turn out just wonderful in life.  Loving God is more important than that even... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."  Luke 10:27

How do you love God?  I am trying to teach you, and my answer right now (in case you forgot) at the young ages you are is by loving others like Jesus did.  It doesn't matter who they are what they have or don't have, how they treat you, if they believe, where they live, if they invited you to their birthday party, if they have seen the new movie, if like like Anna better than Elsa, if they ahve dark skin or light, if they speak another language or if they have an accent.  LOVE them, love them like you KNOW Jesus would have and that means you are doing Jesus/God's work here on Earth and that shows Him that you love Him "with all you got" (mission friends version of that verse.  It's the 4-6 year-old answer right now, but many adults don't even have that answer down yet, so if you don't even get any further than that you are doing great to love Him...just be nice, smile at other people.  It's simple.

I love you, 

Mommy

Sick kids

We had sick girls this week, Lilli Jane had ear infections, and so did Blake, but you can't ever tell with him in his face, he just gets grumpy. He took this picture of Wendy while he was waiting on her. Medicine got them both better quick, and Delaney seemed to just have a stomach big for 12 hours, not vomit or poop though thank goodness. I dread our first experience with that.

 

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